Carton feeding machine



Oct. 18, 1932. I Q E RD 1,883,230

CARTON FEEDING MACHINE Filed April 2. 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nnentor .8J WW, Mmym.

Gttornegs Oct. 18, 1932. c. F. RICHARD CARTON FEEDING MACHINE FiledApril 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1932.

c. F. RICHARD 1,883,230

CARTON FEEDING MACHINE Filed April 2, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W '0 QZhwentor (Ittornegs Patented Oct. 18', 1 932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OF CCHARLES F. BICHABD, 01' BATTLE CREEK, KIGHIGAN, ASSIGllOR TO JOHNSONAUTO- IATIC SEALER 00., LTD 01' BATTLE CREEK, IICHIGAN, A PARTNERSHIPLSSOOIL- TION LIMITED, 01 MICHIGAN Application filed April II,

the cartons continuously from. separate sources of supply to the cartonsealing machine or other instrumentality to be fed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton feeding machinewhich feeds the cartons from separate sources continuously, and at highspeed, to a continuously operated carton sealing machine or device withwhich said carton feeding machine is associated,- I

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton feeding machinewhich feeds cartons from a plurality ofseparate sources of supply intopockets that. carry the cartons at high speed to the carton sealingmachine or other device to be fed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton feeding machinewhich embodies a plurality of feeders and movable pockets compactlyarranged and readily adapted for association with the carton sealingmachine or other device to be fed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton feeding machinewhich is simple in construction, efficient in operatiomand relativelyinexpensive to manufacture, install. and maintain in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionthereof .proceeds. and in order to more clearly understand saidinvention, reference may be had to the appended drawings whichillustrate one embodiment of the inventive idea.

In said drawings-- Fig. 1 is a side view of a carton sealing machineequipped with mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with parts omitcanon mamas IAGHINI me. someIo. maze.

ted,.of the machine and mechanism shown in Fig.1; and

ig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional named, and are preferablyoperated and cons'tructed as follows.

The carton sealing machine includes upper and lower side frame members 5and 6, respectively, duplicated at opposite sides of the machine andjoined together by upper cross members 7, 8 and lower cross members 9,10. The lower cross members 9, 10 are bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to legs 11, 12 disposed in pairs at opposite sides of themachine, respectively, and supporting the described framework therefor.The 1e ably secured to the machine foundation 13, one of the legs 12having an extension 14 on which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured,as at 15, 15, a bracket 16. I 7

Supported on the bracket 16 is an electric motor 17 which serves todrive the various movable parts of the machine. This motor 17 issupplied with electrical current from any suitable source, .and theoperation of the machine may be controlled either by a switch for saidmotor, or by a separate, manually operated clutch, or both. The controldevice or devices just mentioned are of the usual type provided onmachines of this character, and it is therefore unnecessary toillustrate and describe the same.

Fixed on the armature shaft 18 of the motor 17, is a pulley 19 aroundwhich passes a belt 20 that also passes around a pulley 21.

Tension on the belt 20 may, if desired, be maintained by a roller 21'that is engaged by said belt and supported on a bracket 22 bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the lower side frame 6 adjacent the motor17. The 10 11, 12, in turn, are bolted or otherwise suite 29 whichengages said belt and is adjustablyv around a pulley 26. Tension on thebelt i may, if desired, be maintained by a roller 25' engaging said beltand journaled on an arm 25" mounted in any suitable manner on themachine framework. The pulley 26 is fixed on a shaft 27 that extendstransversely of the machine and is journaled on the described frameworkat the top thereof. Fixed on the shaft 27 is a pulley 28 around whichpasses a belt 29 that also passes around a pulley30. Tension on the belt29 is regulated by a roller mounted on a bracket 29 bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to the machine framework. The pulley 30 is fixed on ashaft 31 that extends transversely of the machine at its forward end andis journaled in suitable bearings on the framework thereof.

'Fixed on the shaft 31 are sprockets 32 around which pass chains 33 thatalso pass around sprockets 34. The sprockets 34 are fixed on a shaft 35which is journaled in suitable bearings on a cross member 36. The crossmember 36 is disposed between and secured to, upper and lower ways 37and 38,

respectively, and the chains 33, through the described connectionstherefor with the motor 17, travel continuously along said ways duringthe operation of said motor. ixed at intervals along the chains 33 are aplurality of carton supports or forms 39, the faces of which engage theways 37 and 38 to hold said supports or forms in proper position as theytravel continuously with the chains 33. The supports or forms 3!. are inaccordance with the present invention, successively supplied withcartons 40 by a plurality of pockets indicated broadly at 41, 41' andfrom which the cartons are transferred to said supports or forms. Thesepockets are preferably operated and constructed as follows.

Fixed on the continuously driven shaft 35 is a sprocket 42 around whichpasses a chain 43 that also passes around a sprocket 44 that is fixed ona shaft 45 extending at right angles to the carton sealing machine andin parallel relation with the shaft 35. This shaft 45 is journaled insuitable hearings on a substantially rectangular frame which isindicated broadly at 46 and extends at right angles to the conveyor ways37, 38. This frame includes the usual supporting legs 47 which arejoined together by upper and lower cross members 48 and 49,respectively, and said frame serves to support the movable poplllrets41, 41' and devices associated there- W1 Fixed on the shaft 45 is abevel gear 50 that meshes with a similar gear 51 which is fixed on avertical shaft 52 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 46. Theframe '46 also has journaled in suitable bearings thereon verticalshafts 53, 54, 55. Fixed on the shafts 52, 53, 54, 55, are sprockets 52,53', 54', 55', respectively, and passing around said sprockets is acontinuously driven chain 56 on which the pockets 41, 41 are secured tostand vertically and travel continuously with said chain. The chain 56has all of its reaches disposed in a substantially horizontal plane andsaid chain and the sprockets around which it passes could, if desired,be replaced by a belt and pulleys, respectively. The pockets 41, 41' areall constructed substantially alike and ea ch of the same preferablyincludes the following devices.

For each pocket there are provided relatively movable parts 57, 58 thatform opposed carton supporting portions of the pockets adapted to beopened and closed relatively. The parts 57 58 are fixed in spacedsuperposed relation res ectively, on shafts 59, 60 that are journale insuitable hearings on a bracket 61 secured to the,chain 56. The pocketisnormally closed by springs 62, 63 (Fig. 1) which have their 0 positeends secured to the shafts 59, 60 and the bracket 61. These springs alsoprovide for o ening the pockets to receive the carton. A ter thecartonhas been introduced into the pocket and the latter is closed, the sprins 62, 63 act on the parts 57, 58 so that they yie dably support thecarton in the pocket.

Fixed on the shafts 59 near the upper ends thereof, are arms 65, 65, thearms 65 all extending in a single substantially horizontal plane, andthe arms 65'- all extendin in a single similar plane spaced above t atin which the'arms 65 extend. The arms 65 have journaled on the free endsthereof rollers 66, and the arms 65 have journaled on their free endsrollers 66'. The shafts 60 of the pockets have fixed on the lower endsthereof arms 67 all extending in a single substantially horizontal planeand carrying rollers 68. The continuously traveling chain 56 and thepockets secured thereto, are uided and maintained in proper position byways 69, 70, 71, 72, that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured tothe frame 46 and form a substantially rectangular structure.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured in spaced superposed relation onthe machine framewor r, are a pair of substantially rectangularlyendless tracks or mils 73, 74, that are engaged by the rollers 66, 66,respectively. These rails are provided with cam portions 75, 76 and 77,78, respectively, the latter cam portions extendin past a carton feedingmechanism which is indicated broadly at 79 and disposed at one side ofthe frame 46 in disposed at the o p'osite side of the frame 46 andalsoexten s in spaced, parallel relation with said carton. sealingmachine. The

ockets 41, 41' alternately receive cartons from said feeding mechanismsand pass the same successively during their travel with the chain 56'.For this purpose, the cam portions 7 5, 76 and 77, 78 of the rails 73,74, act through their engagement with the rollers 66, 66, respectively,to open all of the pockets and hold them open until they reach thecarton feeding mechanism 79. This mechanism is timed to. deliver cartonsinto alternate pockets indicated, for example, by the referencecharacter 41, and to permit alternate pockets indicated, for example, bythe reference character 41', to pass by said mechanism without receivingcartons therefrom. Each pocket 41, after receiving a carton from thefeeding mechanism 79, is closed to yieldably grip and support the cartonin the pocket.

For this purpose, the rail 73 is provided beyond the cam portion-77thereof, with a cam portion 7 9a which, when engaged by the roller 66 ofa pocket, enables spring 62 thereof to immediately swing the lever andthe parts '57 in a clockwise direction '(Fig. 2), thereby closing thepocket and yieldably supporting the carton between the opposed arts 57,58 of the pocket. The parts 57 o the pockets, except atone point intheirtravel,

are closed by the action of the springs 62, said parts normally standingat right angles to the brackets 61 and the springs 62 being strongenough to resist appreciable movement of the parts 57 when they engagethe carton delivered-forwardly thereof into the pockets by the feedingmechanisms 79, 80. Y

The alternate pockets 41 traveling successively past the cam portion 79of rails 73 are retained closed by engagement of the rollers 66 withstraight portions of said rail extending between the cam portion 79 andthe cam portion 75. The alternate empty pockets 41 that pass the cartonfeeding mechanism 79,

are retained in openpositionby engagement of the rollers 66' with camportions 81, 82, 83, 84, of the rail 74. These cam ortions through theirengagement with the ro lers 66', act to retain the arms 65- and theparts 57 of the alternate pockets 41 against closing movement until saidpockets have been supplied with cartons by the carton feeding mechanism80. After each pocket 41' receives a carton from the carton feedingmechanism 80, the roller 66' of said pocket engages a cam portion 85of'the rail 74. This cam portion 85 is formed to permit the springs 62of the pockets 41 to close said poc ets successively y swinging the arms65. and the parts 57 of said pockets in a direction opposite to that oftheir opening movement.

It will be understood, from the foregoing, that the carton feedingmechanism. 80 1s timed to successively deliver cartons into thealternate pockets 41' and to permit the alternate pockets 41 havingcartons supported therein, to pass successively without interruptionpast said feeding mechanism. The parts of the carton feeding mechanism 79 are duplicated in the carton feeding mechanism 80, and have likereference characters which in the case of the carton feeding mechanism80, are primed to diflerentiate the two mechanisms. The carton feedingmechanisms '79, 80 being identical in their construction and operationit is therefore only necessary to describe one of said mechanisms. i

The carton feeder 79, for example, is supported on a suitable frameworkincluding oposed side members 86 arranged in spaced reation andsupported at their opposite ends by legs such as indicated at 87 (Fig.3). These legs are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the machinefoundation 13 and the frames and legs at the opposite sides of thefeeder are connected together by upper and lower cross members such asindicated at 88 and 89, respectively. Journaled in suitable bearings onthe front pair of legs 87 is a shaft 90- having fixed thereon a sprocket91 around which passes a chain 92. This chain 92 is controlled andintermittentl driven by any suitable devices (not shown for thesepurposes.

Fixed in spaced relation on the shaft 90 are bevel gears 93 (Figs. 2 and3) that mesh with similar gears 94, respectively. The gears 94 are fixedon vertical shafts 95 that are journaled in suitable bearingson thefront cross member 88 of the feeder. Fixed on the shafts 95 aresprockets 96 around which pass chains 97 that also pass. aroundsprockets '(not shown) which are journaled in any suitable manner on theend of the feeder opposite that carrying the shafts 95 and the sprockets96. The intermittently driven chains 97 have secured thereon atintervals, transversely alined stops 98 in front of which may be placedfollowers 99 adapted 'to stand on and travel along rails 100 extendinglongitudinally of the feeder. The rails 100. project forwardly of thefeeder below the pockets 41, 41' and support open cartons delivered by acontinuously moving knife 101 into alternate pockets 41.

A stack of cartons 102 is placed on the rails 100in front of a follower99 and intermittently advanced by the chains 97 as the cartons aresuccessively separated from the stack by the knife 101; Each cartonseparated in the manner just mentioned, is advanced by the knife 101through guide fingers 103, 104 which are supported in any suitablemanner by the forward part of the feeder framework. The fingers 103 arecurved-and somewhat longer than the fingers 104, the latter being shortto permit the pockets to pass the feeder and the former being yieldablymounted to permit passage of all of the pockets and car- With tonsdelivered into alternate ones of the same. The fingers 103, 104 providea restricted guide that acts to open the cartons successively advancedtherethrough by the knife 101 into the pockets 41.

mg movement of the fin ers 103, but is strong enough to prevent yieldingmovement of sai fingers when the carton is advanced therepast by theknife 101.

The knife 101 moves upwardly into the front carton of the stack, thenforwardly to separate the carton therefrom and advance it between theopening fingers 103, 104, into one of the pockets 41. Thereafter, theknife moves downwardly, rearwardly, and upwardly into the next carton onthe front of the stack. The last mentioned carton is then delivered bythe knife through the opener into the next pocket 41, and theseoperations are repeated as the pockets 41, 41' successively pfiss thecarton feeding mechanism.-

e mechanism forcontinuously imparting the above described movementssuccessively to the knife is preferably comprised by the followinginstrumentalities. Fixed in s aced relation on the continuously driven saft 45, are a pair of cams 107, 107. Each of these cams is provided onits opposite faces cam ooves, the cam grooves of cam 107 being indicatedat 108, 109, and the cam grooves of the cam 107' being indicated at 08',109'. The vertical motion of the knife 101 is derived from the camgroove 108 which has engaged therein a roller 110 that is journaled onan arm 111 intermediate the opposite ends thereof. The arm 111, in turn,is 1ournaled on a shaft 112 supported in any suitable manner by theframe 46. The lever 111 has its free end pivotally connected with oneextremity of a lmk 112a the opposite extremity of w ich is pivotallyconnected with the freeend of an arm 113.

The arm 113 is fixed on a rockshaft 114 that is journaled in suitablehearings on the frame 46. Fixed on the rockshaft 114 is a second arm115, the free end of which is pivotally connected with a link 116. Theopposite extremity of this link is pivotall connected with a slide 117which, through 1: e described connections therefor with the cam grooves108, is vertically reciprocated in a guide 118. This guide 118 issecured to a second guide 119 that is adapted to be horizontallreciprocated along a way or ide 120 bolted or otherwise ber 89.

suitably secur to the cross m'em- Fixed on the upper end of the slide117 is a holder 121 on which is ivoted, as at 122, a substantiallL-shape bracket 123. The knife 101 is b0 ted or otherwise suitablysecured on the substantially vertical lev of this bracket, thehorizontal leg thereof extending between a set screw 124 and a spring125 that'provides for limited yielding movement of the knife 101 when itengages the rear wall of the carton on the inner face thereof. The setscrew 124, serves to regulate the yielding movement of the knife and iscarried by a bracket 126 secured to or formed integrally with the holder121. The sprin 125 is interposed between said holder and t e horizontalarm of the bracket 123 and retained against displacement in any suitablemanner.

It was previously pointed out that the knife 101 moves rearward y intoenga ement with the inner face of the rear wall 0 the carton. For thelatter purpose, the cartons'are each formed in a manner well understoodin the art, with one fla shortened to permit the knife to en age t h asaforesai The forward and rearward or horizontal reciprocating movementof the knife 101 is derived from the cam groove 109 in which is engageda roller 127 that is journaled on an arm 128 intermediate the oppositeends thereof. The arm 128, in turn, is journaled on the shaft 112, andthe free end of said arm is pivotally connected with one extremity of alink 129. The op iosite extremity of the link 129 is pivotally qonnectedwith the free end of an arm 130 forming part of a bell e rear wall "ofthe cartoncrank that is journaled on the shaft '114. I

The other part or arm'131 of this bell crank has its free end pivotallyconnected with one extremity of a ink 132. The olpposite extremit of thelink 132 is ivota y connected wit the slide 119 whic through itsdescribed connections with the cam oove 109, is reciprocated horizontal?to t ereby impart like motion to the kni e 101.

The ockets 41, 41' supplied with cartons by the eeders 79, 80,respectively, carry said cartons in succession past means forrecollalpsing the same. This recollapsing means i 2) is similar inconstruction to that descri ed in m copending application Serial No.351,930, ed April 2, 1929, and includes a recollapsing element 133extendin angularl to and across the path of trave of the poo ets instaggered relation with the parts 57, 58 thereof. The element 133 isbent rearwardly and angularlyas at 134 to enga e the cartons and recollase them in the poc ets. It will be remem red thatthe parts 57 of thepockets are closed by the springs 62 when they have traveled past thesecond carton feeding mechanism 80. In order to provide for collapsingof the cartons in the pockets, however, the parts 58 thereof are assaaaopockets by engagement of the parts 57, 58

with diagonally opposed corners of the cartons.

As each pocket with a carton supported therein approaches therecollapsing means, the roller 68 on the arm 67 of sand pocket, en gagesa fixed cam rail 135 supported in any suitable manner transversely of,and below,

the path of travel of the 0ckets.- Engagement of the roller 68 with saidcam rail swings the rear parts 58 of the pocket in a clockwise direction(Fig. 2). The forward part of the cam rail 135 terminates in an abruptlyand outwardly directed portion 136,

and when the roller 68 is disengaged therefrom, rear parts 58 of thepocket are closed by the spring 63 and reopen the carton in the ocket. y

T e reopened cartons are. successively transferred from the pockets ontothe successive holders or forms 39 of the carton sealing machine, andany suitable means may be employed for so transferring the cartons. Asherein disclosed, the parts 58 of the pockets are provided with bosses58 in which are slidabl mounted vertical rods 137 that are retaineagainst rotation by any suitable means for this purpose. Mounted on therods 137 are springs 138 which, throu h engagement of their oppositeends with the top parts 58 and horizontally extendin arms 139 fixed onthe upper ends of the r s 137, normally tend to hold said rods and armin raised position.

The arms 139 have secured to or formed integrally therewith, dependingholders 140, on t e lower ends of which are bolted or otherwise suitablysecured, strippers 141 that are normally raised above the pockets. Thesestrippers are adapted to be moved downwardl and successively transferthe cartons from t e pockets 41, 41' to the successive elements 39 ofthe carton sealing machine. For this urpose, the rods 137 have mountedon the ower ends thereof, rollers 142 successively adapted to engage aninclined cam rail 143 .that successively lowers the strippers andlikewise transfers the cartons from the successive pockets onto thesuccessive forms or supports 39. The cam rail 143 is sup orted in anysuitable manner by the machine iiamework and when the rollers 142 aresuccessively disengaged from the lower forward end of said cam rail, therods 137 and strippers 141 are likewise raised through the action of thesprings 138. I

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from theforegoing and may be briefly summarized-as follows. The ockets 41, 41'are opened before they reac the carton feeding mechanism 79, and as saidwith cartons.

pockets travel ast said mechanism, the latterv successively de iversopened cartons into the alternate pockets 41. The alternate pockets 41remain open and receive cartons from the carton feeding mechanism 80,whereupon the latter pockets are closed as they travel forwardly of saidmechanism. The pockets 41 traveling past the carton feeding mechanism 80remain closed and the pockets 41, 41 all travel successively past therecollapsing means 68 which successivel recollapses the cartons aspreviously descri ed. -Each ocket is opened by the cam 135, to provi efor collapsing of t e cartons therein, whereupon the pocket is closed toreopen the carton therein. The; reopened cartons are then successivelytransferred by the strippers 141 to successive supports or. forms 39 ofthe carton sealing machine conveyor.

It will appear from the foregoing, that by increasing the number of camsand pockets, any desired number of carton feeding mechanisms can beprovided to supply the pockets It will further appear, that devicesembodying the present invention may be associated singly or togetherwith any instrumentality to which it is desired to feed cartons.

It is'therefore to be expressly understood that the invention is notlimited to the embodiment thereof herein. disclosed, or otherwise thanby the .terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a carton feeding machine, a pluralit ofmechanisms each adapted to open and a Vance cartons, and a plurality ofpockets all movable past each of said mechanisms and adapted toselectively receive the open cartons advanced thereby.

2. In "a carton feeding machine, a pair of mechanisms each ada ted toopen and advance cartons, and a movable past both 0 said mechanisms andalternately receiving the open cartons advanced thereby respectively.

3. In a carton feeding machine, a pair of mechanisms each adapted .toopen and advance cartons, and a plurality of pockets all movable along aclosed path past both of said mechanisms and alternately receiving theurality of pockets all.

open cartons advanced thereby respectively.

plurality of carton supplies, a carton sealing machine, means forcarrying cartons successively from the plurality of means to the cartonsealing machine and comprising a plurality of movable carton supportingpockets adapted to receive the cartons from said plurality of means, andmeans for transferring the cartons successively from said pockets tosaid carton sealing machine.

6. In anjapparatus of the character described, a lurality of means eachadapted to feed and open cartons successively, a carton sealing-machine,means for carrying the open cartons from the plurality of feeding andopening means to the carton sealing machine and comprising a pluralityof continuously moving carton supporting pockets ada ted to receive theopen cartons from said fee ing and o ning means, and means fortransferring t e cartons successively from said pockets onto successivecontinuously trl'laveling elements of said carton sealing ma: 0 me.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of means eachadapted to feed cartons from one of a plurality of carton sup lies, acarton conveyor, means for carrying t e cartons from the plurality offeeding means to the carton conveyor and comprising a lurality ofmovable carton supporting poc ets each adapted to receive a carton fromone of said plurality of feeding mean; and means for transferring thecartons successively from said pockets to said carton conveyor.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of means eachadapted to feed cartons successively, a carton conveyor,

means for carrying the cartons successively fromthe :plurality offeeding means to the carton conveyor and comprising a plurality ofmovable carton supporting pockets adapted to receive the cartons fromsaid plurality of feeding means, means arranged between the cartonfeeding means and the conveyor and adapted to successively collapsecartons supported in the pockets, means forming opposed parts of theockets relatively movab e to provide for col apsing and reopening of thecartons supported therein, and means for transferring the reopenedcartonsv succes sively from the pockets to said carton conveyor. v

9. ha carton feeding machine, a plurality of movable carton supportingpockets adapted to travel continuously one after another along a closedpath and a pluralityof carton sup ly and feeding means arranged adjacentthe path of travel ofthe pockets and adapted to deliver cartons intosaid pockets selectively.

10. In a carton feeding machine,.an endless chain or belt having alurality of carton supporting pockets fixed t ereon,'means for livercartons into alternate chain or belt.

11. In a carton feeding machine, an endless chain or belt havin dis osedin a substantial y horizontal plane, a p uralit of carton supportingpockets secured on the chain or belt to travel therewith, means forimparting motion to the chain or belt and said pockets, and a air ofcarton feeding mechanisms arrange sides of the chain or belt respectivey and each adapted to deliver-cartons into alternate pockets on thechain or belt.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, an endless chain orbelt, a plurality of carton supporting kets secured on the chain or beltto trave therewith, means for imparting motion to the'chain or belt andsaid pockets, a pair of carton feeding mechanisms arranged at oppositesides of the chain or belt respectively and each adapted to depockets onthe all of its reaches at opposite chain or belt, a carton conveyor atone end of the chain or belt, and means for transferring the cartonssuccessively from the pockets to said carton conveyor.

13. In a carton feedin machine, a plurality of carton feeding mecanisms, a plurality o carton supporting pockets each arranged to travelpast all of said feeding mechanisms and adapted to be opened and closed,means for opening each pocket adjacent one of the feeding mechanisms toreceive a carton therefrom, and means for closing the pockets on thecartons therein.

14. In a carton feedin machine, a plurali? of carton feeding mec anisms,a plurality o carton supporting pockets each arranged to travel past allof said feeding mechanisms and adapted to be opened and closed, leverson the pockets,-cam means for operating the levers to open each pocketadjacent one of the carton feeding mechanisms and rovide for delivery ofa carton from said mec anism into the pocket, and spring means forclosing the pockets on the cartons therein.

15. In a carton feedin machine, a plurality of continuously trave ingcarton supporting pockets adapted to be opened and closed, a P

urality of carton supply and feeding mechanisms for delivering cartonsinto the pockets selective! and means for selectively,

ity of movable pockets adapted to be opened and closed, a air of cartonfeeding mechanisms each a apted to deliver cartons mto alternatepockets, and means for opening and closing the pockets to receive andgrip the cartons therein res ectively.

18. In a carton eedin machine a plurality of movable pockets a apted tobe opened and closed, a pair of carton feeding mechanisms each adaptedto deliver cartons into alternate pockets, means for opening the pocketstraveling ast the first carton feeding mechanism an adapted to holdalternate pockets open until they have traveled past the second cartonfeeding mechanism, means for .closing alternate pockets after they havereceived cartons from the first carton feeding mechanism, and means forclosing alternate pockets after they have received cartons from thesecond carton feeding mechanism.

19. A carton feeding machine including a plurality of pockets arrangedto travel one after another along a closed path and a plurality offeeding mechanisms at opposite sides of said path and each adapted todeliver cartons in the-pockets selectively as they travel past saidmechanisms.

20. A carton feeding machine including a series of pockets travellingcontinuously one after another along a'closed path and a pair of cartonfeeding mechanisms each adapted to deliver cartons from one of a pair ofcarton supplies in alternate pockets of said series respectively.

21. A carton feeding machine including a plurality of pockets travellingcontinuously one after another along a closed path and a plurality ofmeans past each of which all of the pockets travel and each adapted .todeliver open cartons in the pockets selectively as said pockets move insuccession past said plurality of means.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofmechanisms each adapted to feed cartons successively from one of aplurality of supplies thereof, and a plu rality of pockets alltravelling continuously past each of said mechanisms and selectivelyreceiving the cartons fed thereb 23. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, a plurality of mechanisms each adapted to open and advancecartons, a plurality of pockets all travelling continuously past each ofsaid mechanisms and selectively receiving open cartons advanced thereby,and means for successively removing the cartons from said pockets.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofmechanisms for separating, opening, and advancing cartons, a pluralityof pockets all movable past each of said mechanisms and adapted toselectively receive open cartons separated and advanced thereby, andmeans for removing the open cartons from the pockets'successively.

25. In an ap'paratusof the character described, a plurality ofmechanisms each supplying cartons successively, a plurality of pocketsall movable past each of said mechanisms and selectively receiving thecartons supplied thereby, a movable device adjacent the path of travelof the pockets, and means for transferring the cartons from said pocketssuccessively to said movable device.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofmechanisms each adapted to supply open cartons successively, a series ofpockets all movable one after anotherl past each of said mechanisms andadapted to selectively receive the cartons supplied thereby, means forremoving the open cartons from the pockets successively, and a movabledevice onto which the cartons are delivered successively by said means.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, a' plurality ofmechanisms each adapted to supply cartons successively, an endlessseries of pockets all movable past each of said mechanisms and intowhich the cartons are delivered selectivelfy; thereby, means forremoving the cartons om the pockets successively, and a movable deviceon which the cartons are successively delivered by said means.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

CHARLES F. RICHARD.

